Ira "Jay" Wiedmer peacefully entered his eternal rest Friday December 15, 2017 in Brighton Colorado at the age of 94. Jay was the first son and the fourth of nine children of Peter and Fannie Pearl (Dunkin) Wiedmer. He attended school through the 10'r'grade and left home at the age of 14 riding a bus to Colorado to look for work. He chose Colorado because he had seen the movie "springtime in the Rockies" and thought he would like to live close to those mountains.
His first job in Denver was shoveling coal. An enterprising young man, he later delivered telegrams for Western Union, cut ice off the mountain lakes for the iceman to sell, and worked on a cattle ranch in Jefferson County. Jay enlisted in the Coast Guard in September 1942 and was transferred to the US Navy because of the war. He proudly served his country until November 1945. Most of his time was spent in the south Pacific on the Gen. H.L. Scott, a troop carrier but he did have some dry-dock time on the east coast. Jay also lived in Oregon and California during his life, but always came ...[more]
k to make his home in the Denver area. He loved country music and played guitar and sang with several groups. He met and married his first wife Millie in California during the war.
Ever interested in cars, he opened and ran his own garage and also worked as a mechanic at a dealership, Chevrolet of course. Jay was employed by the state of Colorado for many years at the CU Medical Center in Denver. He was the stationary engineer for the Ridge Center in Wheatridge at the time of his retirement.
Jay married Louise Hammond in Brighton Colorado in January 1990. They had been married 25 years at the time of her death in 2015. During his retirement they enjoyed traveling south every year to Arizona and were camp ground hosts at several parks. They loved camping and spend much time in the mountains. They also were active in an RV group making many local trips with them. Jay loved cars and had fixed up 'Bessie Mae,' his beloved 1950 Chevy pickup. He and Louise rode in many parades in Bessie Mae.
He is survived by his children Carolyn (John) Bredenberg of Littleton CO, Mary Wiedmer of Fruita, CO, Peggy (Chris) Appell of Susanville CA, Barbara Bettger of Brighton, and Greg Hammond of Northglenn CO. Jay's blended family includes l1 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister Pauline Hoffman of Michigan, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by wife Louise, both parents, son Robert, brother, Marvin, and sisters, Eva, Wylma, Martha, Anna, Velma, and Donna.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association,245l Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202 or the Brighton United Methodist Church, 625 S 8'h Ave, Brighton, CO 80601.
Services are scheduled for Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the Brighton United Methodist Church, Brighton, CO. He will be laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery at a later date.
Tabor-Rice Funeral Home handled arrangements.